Spaniards also use a smartphone

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A recent survey by cybersecurity firm NordVPN reveals that up to 85% of Spaniards use their electronic devices in bed . This is the fourth result among the 16 countries surveyed, with Mexico in first place. A third of Spaniards use more than three devices in bed.

Among the devices most used before going to sleep, Spaniards give priority to smartphones (85%), followed by televisions (46%) and laptops (30%).

“We already knew that Spaniards take their smartphones with them everywhere. Our previous study showed that 80% of people living in Spain use their smartphones even in the bathroom . However, since smartphone use in a relaxed environment is often associated with scrolling, people are less attentive to online security measures and the respective safe behavior,” says Adrianus Warmenhoven, cybersecurity advisor at NordVPN.

Scrolling through social media and watching videos: the main activities of Spaniards while in bed
While more than half of Spaniards (54%) browse social media while in bed, another 50% choose to watch videos (e.g. on YouTube). In addition, almost half of Spaniards (49%) limit themselves to checking their emails and other messages.

Among other activities, Spaniards watch series (45%) or simply chat with friends and family (43%) or choose to read and listen to the news (43%). A third also like to listen to music or podcasts, while another 33% check the weather forecast.

«Studies show that the main activity of Spaniards, both in the morning and in the evening, is browsing social media. When they wake up, they usually check the weather forecast, while in the evening they tend to watch videos. When people are relaxed, they may not notice suspicious activities on their devices , such as a stranger accessing it or strange pop-up messages appearing on the screen. Sharing a bed with your device can end up meaning that you unwittingly share your data with hackers,» says Adrianus Warmenhoven.

2 out of 3 Spaniards believe that devices in bed negatively affect their quality of sleep
Most Spaniards (88%) use devices in bed in the afternoon or at night. So it is not surprising that almost two-thirds (63%) believe that devices in bed negatively affect their sleep quality .

Negative emotions may also be due to the fact that almost half of Spaniards (49%) frequently browse the Internet or check bad news, which is also known as “doomscrolling” . They are only surpassed by Mexicans, who occupy the first place among the countries surveyed, with 50% stating that they do so.

In addition, almost half (48%) of Spaniards consider that they waste time scrolling in bed instead of sleeping. However, they rarely take steps to change this.

or tablet in bed with their partner more frequently than those in many other countries. Almost half (46%) say they do so. While Mexicans, Australians and Britons are slightly ahead in this behaviour, only a small margin separates them from the Spanish, where almost half of the population sleeps with devices in bed with their partner.

Spain, the leader of countries where the "sleep mode" of mobile phones is not used
Spain is among the countries studied that rarely use “bed mode” on their devices . However, although belgium whatsapp lead a third of Spaniards say they spend more time than planned on their devices at night, a significant 42% believe they effectively manage the time they spend on them, using them exactly as long as they intended.

“The ‘bedtime mode’ that is activated before bed is designed to promote healthier technology habits, yet many people choose not to use it, often leading them to surf the web for longer than intended. This not only affects their sleep, but also exposes them to privacy risks. Late night browsing can lead to impulsive decisions, such as overspending or falling for misleading ads,” says Warmenhoven.

Reminder for Spaniards to have a more peaceful cyber time in bed
Using a smartphone or laptop in bed for work or digital entertainment can be nice. However, while you're surfing between the sheets, Adrianus Warmenhoven recommends staying safe:

Keep your apps and operating systems up to date . Don't skip software updates.
Do your research . Never download unknown apps and always check their terms of service.
Avoid unofficial app stores . They are more likely to contain malicious apps.
Avoid using unsecured Wi-Fi networks. And always use a VPN when you do.
Stay alert . Don't click on suspicious links and be wary of unknown numbers. If you're unsure about the safety of the link, consider using a link checking tool .
Use a VPN. VPNs encrypt your data and protect you from prying eyes and hackers.